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God Gives Deliverance

In order for God to deliver or “rescue” us, we first have to know what we are being rescued from.  We are born into this world as body and soul…dead in trespasses and sins and without a spiritual connection to God.  We are incomplete without God’s Holy Spirit.  The Bible tells us where we were before we learned of salvation.

Ephesians 2:1 – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [the Devil], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation [behavior] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But [in stark contrast to the aforementioned things,] God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has rescued us and made us “alive” by the accomplishments of His son Jesus Christ.  It is a completed work and all we need to do is believe it and act accordingly (Romans 10:9-10)  There is nothing we could have done to earn salvation, it is a gift from God through faith.

The book of Colossians tells of God’s will for us:

Colossians 1:9 – For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Verse 13 says [God] who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of [by] his dear Son.

The word “delivered” is more emphatically translated “rescued”

This verse is PAST TENSE. It has already been done for us by God’s grace and the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.  We are now part of God’s household when we become born again:

Ephesians 2:19 – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

This is what we have available because we have been rescued:

We have been saved by God’s grace (Eph 2:5)

We are spiritual royalty and are seated in the heavenlies. (Eph 2:6)

We are God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10)

We have the righteousness of God. (1 Peter 2:24)

We are fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God. (Eph 2:19)

We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)

“Already we have citizenship in God’s kingdom.  He has already “…made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” as told in Ephesians 2:6.  Legally speaking… When Christ died, we died with him, when he was buried, we were buried in the baptism of his burial.  When he arose, we arose with him.  When he ascended, we ascended with him.  When Christ conquered, we conquered with him.  When he was seated, we were seated with him…What a revelation to the soul of man! What glory, what joy, what peace, what bliss!  We are rescued now.”  -VP Weirwille, The Bible Tells me so

We have been rescued from the power of sin and given eternal life by God through the accomplished works of His son, Jesus Christ.  We can rejoice in this reality and appreciate living in the Grace of God in this day and time.

God Bless You!

 

From a May 2006 teaching.  All verses KJV.  [brackets] mine. Original Article: http://robsteachings.blogspot.com/2012/12/god-gives-deliverance.html